Writers can also create new stories based on Howey’s Silo Saga, Eisler’s
John Rain novels, Crouch’s Wayward Pines Series, and the Foreworld
Saga by Neal Stephenson, Greg Bear, Mark Teppo and more

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 20, 2013--
(NASDAQ:AMZN)—Today, Amazon Publishing announced that it has secured
licenses for its new publishing platform, Kindle Worlds, with leading
comic book publisher Valiant Entertainment and best-selling authors Hugh
Howey, Barry Eisler, Blake Crouch and Neal Stephenson. Through these
licenses, any writer will be able to create and sell fan fiction
inspired by the popular Worlds of Valiant superhero comic book series Bloodshot,
X-O Manowar, Archer & Armstrong, Harbinger, and Shadowman,
with more to be added at a later date, as well as Howey’s Silo Saga,
Eisler’s John Rain novels, Crouch’s Wayward PinesSeries,
and the Foreworld Saga. Kindle Worlds is the first commercial
publishing platform that will enable any writer to create fan fiction
based on a range of original stories and characters and earn royalties
for doing so.

“Since announcing Kindle Worlds just weeks ago, we’ve been energized by
the interest and enthusiasm for this new program—from writers and
readers alike,” said Philip Patrick, Director, Business Development and
Publisher of Kindle Worlds. “With content from 2012’s Diamond Gem
award-winning Comic Book Publisher of the Year and the work of several
best-selling authors, we’re excited to expand Kindle Worlds and give
writers even more options to be creative and earn royalties.”

“Kindle Worlds presents an amazing opportunity to bring Valiant’s
wide-ranging universe of characters to a new medium, and empower fans
and aspiring creators,” said Gavin Cuneo, Valiant’s CFO and Head of
Strategic Development. “Comics are well known for their passionate and
interactive fan communities, and, through the Kindle Worlds platform,
we’re excited to give aspiring authors and fans the opportunity to work
within the Valiant Universe, make their stories accessible to a large
audience, and earn revenue for their work.”

Amazon Publishing previously announced licenses from Warner Bros.
Television Group’s Alloy Entertainment division for its New York Times
best-selling book series Gossip Girl, by Cecily von Ziegesar; Pretty
Little Liars, by Sara Shepard; and Vampire Diaries, by L.J. Smith.
Interested writers are encouraged to visit Kindle Worlds (www.amazon.com/kindleworlds)
to learn more and get a head start on writing. Later this month, the
Kindle Worlds Store is expected to launch with over 50 commissioned
works, including Valiant-branded short fiction from authors Jason Starr,
Robert Rodi, Stuart Moore and others. At that time, the Kindle Worlds
self-service submission platform, where any writer can submit completed
work, will also open.

“Good storytelling for me starts with great characters, no matter the
format,” said Kindle Worlds Archer & Armstrong author Scott Nicholson.
“I’m thrilled that Amazon has been pushing the digital frontiers to open
up even more sharing of ideas and building new communities around the
most popular characters and stories.”

Amazon Publishing will pay royalties to both the rights holders of the
Worlds and the author. The standard author’s royalty rate (for works of
at least 10,000 words) will be 35% of net revenue. Amazon Publishing
will also pilot an experimental new program for particularly short
works—between 5,000 and 10,000 words. For these short stories—typically
priced under one dollar—Amazon will pay the royalties for the World’s
rights holder and pay authors a digital royalty of 20%.

Amazon Publishing is engaged with additional rights holders from
different areas of entertainment—books, games, TV, movies and music—and
looks forward to announcing future deals soon. To get started writing
works in licensed properties and for submission guidelines and updates
on licensed properties, visit www.amazon.com/kindleworlds.
For regular updates on Kindle Worlds, follow @KindleWorlds on Twitter.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com,
Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on
the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest
Selection. Amazon.com,
Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers
can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and
endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com
and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used
items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital
Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby;
Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors;
and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon’s
developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services
based on Amazon’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can
use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the
most-advanced e-reader ever constructed with 62% more pixels and 25%
increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all
lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light
design. The new latest generation Kindle, the lightest and smallest
Kindle, now features new, improved fonts and faster page turns. Kindle
Fire HD features a stunning custom high-definition display, exclusive
Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with
dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and
downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation
processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display
sizes—7” and 8.9”. The large-screen Kindle Fire HD is also available
with 4G wireless, and comes with a groundbreaking $49.99 introductory 4G
LTE data package. The all-new Kindle Fire features a 20% faster
processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery
life.

Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a
library of over 1,500 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot,
Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant
has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue
to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond.
Since its summer 2012 relaunch, Valiant has returned to the fore as one
of the most highly regarded publishers in comics, winning a 2012 Diamond
Gem Award for Comic Book Publisher of the Year. For more information,
visit ValiantUniverse.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly
from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to
competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international
expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment and
data center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements,
acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system
interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments
and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect
Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.